Cong sees chance in UP polls to strengthen UPA

"We are working with the aim to form the government in Uttar Pradesh so that we are able not only to bring about a change in the state but even find a solution from this very election to the obstacles that we face sometimes at the Centre," Salman Khurshid said.

Amid strains with some of its allies, Congress sees a chance in Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls not just to form the government in the state but also to stabilise the UPA at the Centre.

"We are working with the aim to form the government in Uttar Pradesh so that we are able not only to bring about a change in the state but even find a solution from this very election to the obstacles that we face sometimes at the Centre," Union minister Salman Khurshid told reporters.

With half of the term of UPA II already over, the minister emphasized the need for strengthening the hands of the central government saying it has to complete all its programmes and implement fast the far reaching decisions taken by it in the remaining time it has.

Claiming that a "wind of change" is sweeping UP and a "comprehensive change" would be visible after the polls, Khurshid said Rahul Gandhi has totally dedicated himself to the elections in the state.

The minister parried a question on whether any internal survey of the party has pointed to the possibility of the Congress-SP-RLD combine being in a position after the polls in UP to form the government but claimed the party was "moving very fast" towards forming its own government in the state.

"I am not privy to any survey but my understanding is that we are moving very fast towards making our government in UP. Those who are in the government now are going fast in retreat and the stage is being vacated largely.

"I believe because of their own wrongdoings and Rahul Gandhi's aggressive campaign, we are occupying very fast the space they are vacating," he said.

Congress has recently been facing heat from its allies with Trinamool Congress daring the party to walk out of the alliance in West Bengal and NCP giving it an ultimatum over sharing of seats for the Mumbai civic polls.